United States House of Representatives

Congressman Mike Simpson’s rather non-responsive reply to my email citing inaccuracies in his characterization of Canadian tar sands and the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would carry that corrosive sludge across America’s farming heartland:

June 6, 2013

Dear Gary:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Keystone XL pipeline. I appreciate hearing from you and having the opportunity to respond.

As you know, the House recently voted on H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, which would eliminate the need for a Presidential Permit, and find that the Final Environmental Impact Statement issued by the Secretary of State on August 26, 2011, shall satisfy all environmental review requirements. It passed the House by a vote of 241-145, and will now move to the Senate for further consideration. I supported H.R. 3 because I believe that moving forward with the permitting of the Keystone XL pipeline would create jobs and reduce our dependence on unstable foreign sources of oil, and I am disappointed that the President appears to be playing politics with our nation’s energy security.

Although we may not agree on this issue, I am glad that you have shared your comments regarding this issue with me. It is extremely helpful to me to know how proposed regulations and laws will impact Idahoans, and having your perspective is valuable to me. As this proposal moves forward, you can be confident that I will monitor this issue carefully and with your thoughts in mind.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact me about this issue. As your representative in Congress, it is important to me to know your thoughts and opinions about issues affecting our nation today. I also encourage you to visit my website, http://www.simpson.house.gov, to sign up for my e-newsletter and to read more about my views on a variety of issues.

Sincerely,

Mike Simpson

Member of Congress

Is the congressman from Idaho playing politics with the environmental security of the breadbasket of our nation, or does it just appear that way?